Transitions: Deb man walking

Today we say farewell to the greatest leader the NSW Liberal Party has known this year. Or do we? If you go to his website (www.peterdebnam.com.au), this note will appear on your screen: "This site is down for maintenance. Please check back again soon."

We'd like to take this as an optimistic sign that Mr Debnam intends to return to public life - if not in political mode, then replaying his finest moment during the recent campaign (displayed here as your souvenir of a very strange period in state political history).

The swimming costume company Budgy Smuggler certainly hopes Mr Debnam has not permanently lowered his public profile. Yesterday it offered him a job. In a press release that makes you hope their cossie-making skills are better than their typing skills, with multiple variations on Mr Debnam's surname, Budgy Smuggler wrote:

"With the resignation of Peter Debman Australia has lost a great public figure, and one of our most committed budgy smugglers. Mr Debman showed great political courage to take on the board short lobby in the most recent NSW election. It is a well known fact that the board short lobby has a vast web of influence in media and political circles in NSW. In recognition of Mr Denman's valuable public service budgy smuggler will today offer Mr Debman a full time position as a global brand ambassador."

We phoned the erstwhile opposition leader's press secretary yesterday to ascertain whether he might be interested in taking up the offer, and we could swear we heard a party going on in the background. The minder said he would try to get an answer from his boss on the last day of employment for both of them, but we had not heard back by press time last night